The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-03-02
GHOSTS IN OLD NlRGlNNY.
THE SPENDTIIRIFT PLANTER WHO
COULD NOT REST IN Ills GRAVE.
Tale by Marion IIurIuud, Which Sh,
Says is Founded on Facts.

day within doors. In his brisk prone
made on tho long porch he glanced,
when he passed them, into the drawing
room windows. In the warm area
spread about it by tho great fire in tho
chimney, he could sec two armchgrS set
suggostivcly together ON the rug. He had
sat in one all the afternoon. His fancy
now placed in the other n slight supple
figure in wino-colored gown with soft
laces at neck and wrists. She was young
and bluc-eyed,- and had rust-colorcd hair
with bronzed ripplcs running through it;
in the check next to him was o dinplc
that decpencd when she laughed. He
would marry her i'll May, God willing,
by the time the roses would be in bloom
on the bare, brown sticks over thcro in
the garden. His home was IN Lynch
burg, fifty miles away from Powhatan
plantation, purchased six months ago by
Gervas Miller, his prospective fathCr-in-
law, long journey by stage or private
carriage in this wcG thcr, and over the
worst roads i'll Virginia.
John Speed, the "catch" of his native
town, and engaged to the sweetest girl
in the world, yet found the air raw, the
situation Of Round Hill, noted for its
wide outlook, bleak, the landscape
drcary Eliza C'Shy'' to her family and
friends since her baby tongue had in
vented the pretty substitute for her
prosaic namc) had gonc up stairs to
dress for supper; Mrs. Miller was busy
i'll her own domain; Mr.. Miller and his
two sons were ut the county court hoilse,
it being the first Monday III The month
the Circuit Court was in session.
AS he turned at the end OF the porch
in his twentieth round-hc cuuntcd them
to pass the tlmc-hc saw Il man coming
up the brick walk, "An odd fgurcn'
meditatcd the city beau, bnt one who
had the bearing OF II gentleman. \ long
sul.cnt OF drab cloth, open and nyinp
back as he strobe forward. showed y
blue, close bodied coat trimmed with
brass buttons, ruilicd shirt soilcd and
rumpled, II buit vest and brccclcs of the
same color rs the hat. Drawn over them
to the knee, pair OF top boots stained
with red mud completed his attire Hc
carried hiding whip i'll his n Int hand,
and the wide brlm of his hat WAS caught
up rakishly on one side.
"a queer fossil, even Tor the middle
countless commented John Speed, inly,
halting to await nearer approach and
salutatlop. "Ilc might bayc come over
with Captain john Smith"
The stranger assembled the steps de-
lbcrately, paused ut the top and wheeled
for look at the lnndscupc, taking OH
his hat with II gesture OF intense wcari-
ncss-a dcSpondcnt slouch oi the we'll
knit figure that was incXprossib!y mourn
full His complexion was as swarthv as
Craolcs-Jom Speed took note of de,
tails while he still hcSituted to advance
and accost him. The deep eyes shone
with rcd fire, the lower lip VAS fast in
the savage bite OF white, sharp teeth.
He was unshavcn, haggard, dlshovclcd.
His hair and one eyebrow were IRON
gray; the other eyebrow was black as
coal, giving sinister cast to the CORFU
gated forehead.
When he turned swiftly on his heel,
and with one stride vanished ut the hall
door, John Speed followed instantly.
The eccentric visitor might be II priv
legged ncighbor, or-he reflected nm
easily--an escaped lunatic. la any cas- @
it was his place to shield the ladies from
disagrceable surprise in the absence of
the host and his sons.
Casting n glance into the drawing
room windows as he hurried by them,
he saw the uncorcmonious guest throw
himself into one of the armchuirs before
the fire. The door OF the room was shut,
and as the Lynchburger opened it,
Tribe, Shy's pct spaniel, ran out be-
tween his legs, yclping shrilly in pain or
terror and scampcred up Tie staircase.
John had distinct glimpse of the
figure crouchcd together i'll the chair,
elbows on knees and head in hands, be-
fore tho dog escaped past him.
"Why, Triiie Here, Triile!" he called,
reassuringly. "What is the matter, old
fellow?"
AS the insulted lavoritc flashed out Of
sight the young man pushed the door
back and entered.
excuse me, sir!" he began laughing
ly.
Both chairs were empty. Not Il crca-
ture was present except himself!
III.
Shy'S voice in the hall coaXinQ and
chiding her dog recalled him from mis-
fitted "reminiscences of scientific oXplaua-
tions of wraiths and doubles. He smiled
foolishly III pcrceiviug that lie was
actually feeling his own pulse AS we'll
be superstitiolls as hypochondrical.
"What have you done to Triilc?" said
Shy, in her clear, girlish tones, as he
opened the door for her. 'IIo was 10th
to come down with me Mt all. A little
while ago he scratched at my door, and
when let him in ran craying and shak-
ing all over into the darkest corner OF
the closet. | brought him down in my
arms but the moment he heard your
step he jumped to the floor and raced
back up stairs"
They had been separated for half an
hour. 1t was therefore necessary that
John should wind his arm~abont the
slim waist and bend his tall head to the
level Of hers; then conduct her to fire
without withdrawing the support Still
standing thus, he told her how the dog
had rushed past him and disregarded his
call.
81 suppose coal popped out on him,
nbaerUnd Civ parplpgalV npqtlinn her